WEBVTT Prairie Meadows is putting its money where its mouth is - gambling big - that sports betting will soon be legal in Iowa. It's not legal yet -- but as KCCI's Chris Gothner tells us -- Prairie Meadows is already getting the ball rolling. Stacey -- they announced a deal with a major British company to be its sports book operator. And construction is underway on a facility to accommodate it. <19;06 WE'VE HAD SO MANY INQUIRIES -- PPL CALLING EMAILING WHEN ARE WE GONNA HAVE SPORTS BETTING. 19;12> Prairie Meadows C-E-O Gary Palmer is confident Iowa will legalize sports betting.. <19;01 THIS WILL HAPPEN IN IOWA. WE REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT. 19;04> He's so confident in fact -- Prairie Meadows is already constructing a 8600 square foot sports book on its fourth floor -- expected to be done mid- February. It'll feature a bar with video screens galore -- and live odds. <18;11 IF THEY DO NOT APPROVE IT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY THE NICEST SIMULCAST AREA EVER 18;15> And Prairie Meadows announced Wednesday it has reached an agreement with UK-based bookmaker William Hill -- The company runs a number of operations in the U-S -- after a Supreme Court ruling last year opened up the sports betting market beyond Nevada. Palmer says it's all about giving gamblers what they want... <21;21 I THINK IT'S THE SOCIAL ASPECT -- PPL CAN GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A LOT OF FUN 21;25> And staying ahead of the curve. <18;18 WE'RE IN ANTICIPATION THAT EITHER THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE SPORTS BETTING IN THE STATE OF IOWA -- SO WE'LL BE READY FOR IT. 18;25> Prairie Meadows and William Hill would split profits 50/50 - but the deal will only happen once sports betting becomes law. To its skeptics -- Palmer argues lawmakers will ensure Iowans benefit. <22;18 THEY KNOW WHAT THE PPL OF IOWA WANT THEY'VE GOPT 30 YRS EXP NOW. WE HAVE ALL THE CONF IN THE WORLD WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CRAFTS A BILL IT WILL NBE A GOOD BILL AND THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION WILL WRITE PROPER RULES FOR THAT. 22;33> Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann, who chairs the House State Government Committee -- tells me to expect a sports betting bill to be filed next week. He thinks there's a good chance of it passing this year -- and the issue has gotten bipartisan interest. One component he says lawmakers will have to consider -- is how to regulate fantasy sports bettin

A central Iowa casino is betting on sports betting. It's not legal yet, but Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is already getting the ball rolling, announcing a deal with U.K.-based William Hill to be its sports book operator. Construction is underway on a facility to accommodate it."We've had so many inquiries, people calling, emailing, 'When are we going to have sports betting?'" said Gary Palmer, president and chief executive officer of Prairie Meadows. "This will happen in Iowa. We really do believe that."Prairie Meadows is already constructing an 8,600-square-foot sports book on its fourth floor, and it's expected to be done by mid-February. It'll feature a bar with video screens and live odds."If they do not approve it, we're going to have probably the nicest simulcast area ever," Palmer said.William Hill runs a number of sports betting operations in the United States after the Supreme Court struck down a law limiting it to Nevada. Palmer said it's all about giving gamblers what they want and staying ahead of the curve."I think it's the social aspect. People can get together and have a lot of fun," Palmer said. "We're in anticipation that either this year or next year, we'll have sports betting in the state of Iowa, so we'll be ready for it."RELATED: Place your bets: Supreme Court case could bring sports betting to IowaIowans can bet on legal sports betting, lawmaker saysIowa Lottery pitches ideas to get into sports betting gamePrairie Meadows and William Hill would split the profits 50-50, but the deal will only happen once sports betting becomes legal. To skeptics, Palmer argued that lawmakers will ensure Iowans benefit."They know what the people of Iowa want," Palmer said. "They've got 30 years of experience now. We have all the confidence in the world when the Legislature crafts a bill, it will be a good bill and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will write proper rules for that."State Sen. Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, said the Senate hasn't heard of anything immediate in his chamber, but he's heard the House may take up sports betting next week.

ALTOONA, Iowa (KCCI) —

A central Iowa casino is betting on sports betting. It's not legal yet, but Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is already getting the ball rolling, announcing a deal with U.K.-based William Hill to be its sports book operator. Construction is underway on a facility to accommodate it.

"We've had so many inquiries, people calling, emailing, 'When are we going to have sports betting?'" said Gary Palmer, president and chief executive officer of Prairie Meadows. "This will happen in Iowa. We really do believe that."

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Prairie Meadows is already constructing an 8,600-square-foot sports book on its fourth floor, and it's expected to be done by mid-February. It'll feature a bar with video screens and live odds.

"If they do not approve it, we're going to have probably the nicest simulcast area ever," Palmer said.

William Hill runs a number of sports betting operations in the United States after the Supreme Court struck down a law limiting it to Nevada. Palmer said it's all about giving gamblers what they want and staying ahead of the curve.

"I think it's the social aspect. People can get together and have a lot of fun," Palmer said. "We're in anticipation that either this year or next year, we'll have sports betting in the state of Iowa, so we'll be ready for it."

Prairie Meadows and William Hill would split the profits 50-50, but the deal will only happen once sports betting becomes legal. To skeptics, Palmer argued that lawmakers will ensure Iowans benefit.

"They know what the people of Iowa want," Palmer said. "They've got 30 years of experience now. We have all the confidence in the world when the Legislature crafts a bill, it will be a good bill and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will write proper rules for that."

State Sen. Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, said the Senate hasn't heard of anything immediate in his chamber, but he's heard the House may take up sports betting next week.